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JOHNNY BLADE
CUTTIN' TO THE BONE
BUZZFEST
"HELL IS FULL OF AMATURE MUSICIANS"
BUZZFEST or even more politically correct, SNOOZEFEST, reared its head in Nashville and yawned before disappearing in a hopefully soon forgotten trail of diesel exhaust, empty beer cups and ear wrenching headaches.
102.9 FM, Nashville's answer to the now dead and buried legendary rock station, W-KDF 103.3 FM, held its summer escapade, cough, featuring FUEL, EVERLAST, EVERCLEAR and POD along with a host of local talent at the AM South Amphitheater in connection with SFX Productions. At this time and before I write another word, I do want to personally thank Megan, the SFX Marketing Director, for all her personalized assistance, patience and professional approach in working with PURR during the show. I know it's demanding overseeing an 11 hour event hosting 10-15,000 people not to mention employees and the acts, but even fatigued her professionalism shined brighter than the lights on stage. I also want to acknowledge and thank the polite security staff for their assistance, and the courteous event staff working that evening. OK, that is out of the way, I'm slipping on the boots and breaking off a proper piece of ass kicking reality and cuttin' to the bone.
POD: HELL YES!!! What can you say about a band that has their show cut in half because of the time element of the venue and still comes out full blast and in your face, professional maybe? The concert had run over and POD, being the headliner, took the hit but the crowd and the band stayed the course, and POD delivered a performance that reflected the bands 9 years on the road, and the crowd loved it! Their music speaks for itself and the positive styling of their music and the set was perfect for bringing an otherwise uneventful array of bands to a close. This was the only time all night anyone got up off their asses and rushed the stage to be a part of the show. I look forward to this band coming back to Nashville and having the time to do their show the way I know they wanted to. Oh well, lets just hope good things do come to those who wait, I know I'll be waiting.
I would like to ad in closing that if more people went out to the clubs and supported the best of the best local acts in their respective areas, I would not have to write such bad reviews about so called professional acts. The only reason music fans have to settle for less than the best is too many great talented people simply can't get the support or the fan base they need to make an adequate impression on the A&R reps in the industry. This opens the door for those that can buy their way in or slip in by whatever other means are available to them and this must change. For many, this poor musical representation has been evolving for so long, it is simply accepted now. So, the next time the ticket costs more than a couple of hours of your hard-earned money ask yourself is the band really worth it? And if the answer is no, skip that show and support the good area bands and help the record companies find the better music to grace tomorrow's stages.
JB
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FUEL:Rocket fuel they're not! They ran out of gas too fast but at least they appeared, or acted like and sounded like, they wanted to appear and were capable of performing. Although their repertoire is mostly indistinguishable from one tune to the next, they did play with authority and enthusiasm, especially the lead guitarist. But I can't see much of a future for this singer/surfer look alike band, there is just nothing new, innovative, or ear capturing here let alone factoring in their total lack of image, charisma and stage presence. In fact, FUEL could be any band in Montana for that matter playing the bars for tips. I don't know who it is they know to be where they are standing on stages the caliber of AM South but they should be on their knees thanking them if they are not already on their knees thanking them in private. Then again, maybe they paid to play the show like I was informed the local bands that performed the gig had to do?
EVERLAST: It's a good thing I had a press pass or I would have demanded a refund. I have seen better performances at the Indie Net, an all ages club, by garage bands in Nashville. Disappointment is a poor adjective here not to mention an undeserved polite overstatement of my true opinion. The most memorable image left in my mental scrapbook is the bass player yawning while sleep walking through the songs during the set. Once again it is evident; anyone can tour and sell if MTV plays the video. EVERLAST is as energetic in their performance as an overdose and they play with all the vigor of an aged mortician. If EVERLAST is what is becoming of alternative pop music, I choose the alternative to the alternative. I mean really, they were so bad we left the canopy and went to watch the belly dancer while waiting for the next act. Perhaps their next cliché would be chart topper should be titled: "Now you know what it's like to be ripped off?"
EVERCLEAR: These guys actually know how to put together a 40 minute set and they even look like musicians, purple hair and all. Although, outside of a tasty acoustic song and the occasional high jump from the amp top, I can't write much about being slammed and overly impressed. At least one member had a nice venue for his birthday celebration however. I know because he kept mentioning it over and over and over...maybe that is how they were able to arouse several loud and enthusiastic ovations from an overly burned out crowd. A crowd, I am sad to admit I shared too much in common with by that time of night. All in all, I might pay to see EVERCLEAR if they were opening for a really good band but only in a smaller hall like 328 Performance Hall or The Exit In. Fact is EVERCLEAR sounds just like all the other bands you hear today. Maybe next year they will have left behind their rock roots to pursue a career in the country music industry like the rest of the one hit wonders and easily forgotten average bands that somehow managed to get a deal.
